Best Oil Paint Glaze for a Smooth Surface

Oil Painting Glaze Ingredients
Damar Varnish: Linseed Stand Oil: Mineral Spirits

My favorite glaze for oil painting is Damar Varnish: Linseed Stand Oil: Mineral Spirits* in a  1:1:1 ratio. This is a very high quality clear glaze that creates a strong paint film.  This homemade glaze is mixed in a very small quantity:  I put equal parts in a 1 oz glass jar with a screw top lid and shake it up.  I usually make a small amount at a time, because it does thicken up a bit over time.  I do not dip into the jar, but pour it out into my paint mixing container.   Treated this way, it will last weeks in a tightly lidded jar.

This glaze mixture is said to dry relatively quickly. I find that it takes several days in my humid climate. Even though reworking the painting can occur early in initial painting session of a new glaze layer, the painting does not remain 'open' beyond this first day as this glaze becomes increasingly tacky during the drying period. That being said, there is a much longer open period compared to Liquin glaze.

This is perfect glaze for using on panels or other smooth rigid supports.  I also like to use it on canvas.  I use this formula of glaze when I want an extremely smooth surface without much in the way of texture or brushstrokes.

 

Many of my paintings are layer upon layer upon layer....of glazes and transparent or semi-transparent paints.  This glaze is perfect for this style of multi-layered painting.  The end result is a finish that has a slight sheen, but not a high gloss finish.

 

*The Brands I use: Richeson Damar Varnish, Maimeri Stand  Linseed Oil, Gamblin Gamsol 100% Odorless Mineral Spirits.

 

 

Highest Quality Oil Paint for Pennies

Save Money by Tubing Paint

High quality oil paint does not have to be expensive.  Purchasing paint in bulk can save a bundle;  Get paint in jars and tubs and use it directly from the container or tube it yourself. 

Empty 40 mL paint tubes

I don't use it fast enough to prevent paint from drying out in a wide mouth container, so I like to order paint in large quantities and tube it into 40mL or 125mL tubes.

Bulk Professional Oil Paints

Previously I discussed the content of various brands of oil paints.  Another brand I like to paint with is RGH.  These american made paints do not use extenders and contain only pigments and alkalai refined linseed oil.  They can also be custom made with safflower or walnut oil. 

RGH sells paint in tubes, jars and cans in sizes from 37, 63, 125 and 250 mL or 1/8,1/4, 1/2 and full pints to a quart, 1/2 gallon and gallon!


See the RGH pigment identification chart here.

How to Tube Oil Paint

See Stapleton Kearns' Tubing Paint for a thorough tutorial.

Post Your Comment Below:

Green Artist Tip: 4 Steps to Turpentine Recycling

Use Turpentine To Clean Oil Paint Brushes

Read post about Cleaning Brushes here.

How To Save and Re-use Turpentine:

You will need two jars with lids and a rag /paper towel

1. Swirl Dirty Brush in Clean Turpentine in Jar #1
2. Let Paint Settle to Bottom of Jar #1
3. Pour Turpentine from Jar #1 to Jar #2- Put lid on jar #2 and store recycled turpentine.
4. Wipe Out Jar #1 (while paint is still wet) and reuse jar later.




Swirl Dirty Brush in Turpentine

  

Let Paint Settle to Bottom

 

It takes several hours for paint to settle.  Just put a lid on it and go back to it later.

 

Carefully Pour Clean Turpentine from Jar #1 to Jar #2

Once paint has settled, be careful not to agitate jar.  Pour clean turp into clean empty jar.





Jar #2 Containing Recycled Turp



       

Clean Turp in jar #2 can be stored for later use. Store with tight fitting lid.



Wipe Out Paint from Jar #1 to Re-use Jar

Wipe out jar #1- this now becomes your empty clean jar for next time.  Let rag or paper towel dry and then throw in trash.

Art Supply Coupons

Latest Art Supplies Coupon Codes

Updated 12/19/15

Cheap Joes

Cheap Joes

Jerry's  Artarama

Jerry's email offer Free shipping on $50.

Rex Art

RexArt- $5 Off $85 order. Free shipping on $100. Coupon Code: FIVER1215

 Utrecht

Utrecht Coupon Codes

Utrecht Art Supply Coupon Codes

Utrecht Coupon Codes

Updated August 7, 2013 

Save 40% off 1 Item of Art Supplies from Utrecht! Use code AONE. Spend $100 & Shipping is FREE!

15% off non-sale puchases of $50+ Plus Free Shipping on orders $50 or more. Use coupon 86876 to get the savings until 12/11.

Save 15% off Your Order of $75 or More with Coupon ATWO at UtrechtArt.com!

20% off non-sale puchases of $50+ Plus Free Shipping on orders $50 or more. Use coupon BRUSH to get the savings until 12/17.


MORE ART SUPPLY COUPON CODES HERE

Paint Snob Says: Best Oil Paint Is...

I am a Coffee Snob, a Wine Snob and a Paint Snob
Before my tastes became "refined," I painted with any paint that was pretty. I then discovered the deliciousness of Old Holland, Williamsburg and Rembrandt Oils. But now I have a new favorite!

RGH Oil Paints Are My New Favorites
RGH oil paints are made by artist, Rolf Haerem, for artists. Pure pigments are combined with alkali-refined linseed oil and put through a three roll mill three to five times. RGH does not use extenders in their paints and guarantees their quality.

Why I love this oil paint:

• High Quality
• Hand Made in US
• Professional Grade
• High Tinting Strength
• Butttery Consistency
• Economical Pricing
• Customized Paints
  

You no longer have to compromise paint quality for price. RGH paints are available in over 100 colors made from the purest pigments and finest ingredients.

Buy 37ml, a gallon, or many quantities in between!

Browse other posts about Oil Paint.

Business Cards: √ (check)

Business Cards Cheap

9 bucks shipped- no frills, but does the job!

Business Cards Fast

It took less than a week!

• Tuesday, 4:30 pm: I uploaded the completed design for premium business cards to Vistaprint and chose slowest shipping method (21 days).
• Thursday, 1:43 am : Vistaprint email informs my order is shipping early.
• Friday: Order shipped
• Monday: Order received

Image Uploaded for Printing

I had to play around with and re-uploaded my images to get graphics inside the "Vistaprint safe zone" denoted by a dotted line on uploaded image.  This was after I had already prepared document to specifications of  1062x615 pixels and a cut size of 1028x579 pixels.  Other than this inconsistency, the process was easy. 

Business Cards Cost
250 cards is about $25 shipped.
1000 cards is about $36 shipped.

This included these "extras":
Upload of own design (2)
Glossy color on front side
Full color back side

250 cards can be had for about $9 including shipping, without the extras above. 
250 cards (free option) is less than $6 If you allow the vistaprint branding on the back side.

Vistaprint Card Ordering Tips:
Chose slow shipping for savings- it was really pretty quick.
Received a coupon enclosed in my order for 25% off next order plus free uploads.
Continually receive free offers by email- it pays to get on their mailing list.
Vistaprint prints postcards and tons of other stuff too.

Keep It Simple, and Happy New Year

Blogging Success

OK- So I have been reading about art, marketing, art marketing, blogging, etc. 
what "they" say out there is I should be:

1. writing at least 1000 words per day,
2. spending at least 10 hours writing each blog post,
3. reading at least 10 hours (of blogs) per week,
4. commenting on other blogs daily,
5. studying copywriting,
6. studying marketing,
7. learning html code- at least some basics,
8. linking into social networking (they don't agree on the effectiveness of the various networks, but Facebook is a must),
9. developing a product if I have a service and vice versa, and
10. asking my readers to subscribe to 'my stuff,' which, right now is this blog.

OK- I don't have time for all this...so I'll never be the 'cream of the crap' of bloggers,
but you, my friend, could become a bloggin' superstar!
- just begin by doing all of the above and to help you out I will be bringing you bunches of (mostly free) resources to enhance your artistic, blogging, marketing, selling success.

As for #10, above, I invite you to accept one of your first New Year's gifts:

What You Will Get: Free Offers to Improve Your Online Life- Yep- That's what's ahead.
What You Won't Get: Spam; Nada, Zero, Zilch- I hate that S*#$! Yer info is NEVER given out, EVER!

So don't miss out on Free Cool Stuff to come, just sign up:
Sign up for new Beyond The Artist's Way Blog posts by doing (at least) one of the following three things:

1. Sign-up as a Follower (click here)
2. Subscribe to RSS Feed (click here)
3. Subscribe by Email;
   

   Enter your email address in box:

   
   

If you already receive updates you will never miss this Free Cool Stuff.

Happy New Year!
~~julie susanne

Art Marketing Salon

Free Art Marketing Info

Marketing our art can be challenging when we feel we are going it alone.  Banding with a group of fellow artists can make the task feel less like work and more do-able, however.  Although there are numerous ways to achieve this, one of the most traditional and under utilized may be the art salon.

As you know, I am a fan of Alyson Stanfield and her art marketing book, I'd rather be in the studio!.  She also provides loads of information on her blog, Art Biz Blog.  I have found yet another resource that Ms. Stanfield has generously made available to artists at no charge.   It is her plan for creating your own >Art Marketing Salon.

Stanfield asks, "Artists: Does trying to promote your artwork have you feeling alone, frustrated, or unmotivated?"  She then offers a solution free of charge.  On Stanfield's >artbizconnection website you will find a structured step by step outline on how to create and run an art marketing salon.  Furthermore, she offers additional resources to art salons who choose to register as an Art Biz Connection Salon.  Yep, It's really free.


Please add your comments, questions, tips by clicking 'comments,' below.

Frugal Artist Tip: Clothespins for Drying Paint Brushes? Yes, Clothes Pins

After washing and reshaping paint brushes, (See: Cleaning Oil Paint Brushes)

• Clip each to a clothes pin.
• Set on edge of a counter or table with the bristles toward the ground.
• Allow to drip dry.

Water drips out of metal ferrule . This keeps water from collecting inside ferrule which helps prevent bristle damage.
On a beveled countertop you will need to anchor clothespins with something: a piece of wood works well  or clip a 2nd clothes pin onto the one holding the brush.

I have found wooden clothespins at a small local hardware store or for an even better price at a dollar store. 

Do you have a great art tip to share?  Post below- just click 'comments.'

Frugal Artist Tip: Cleaning Oil Paint Brushes

Ten Easy Steps to Cleaning Oil Paint Brushes

1. Remove excess paint onto palette (if there is a lot) or onto paper or rag. 
2. Dip or swish in very small amount of solvent- I like weber odorless turpenoid. 
3. Wipe on clean part of rag until relatively clean.  Repeat until no color shows on rag. 
4. Now get all the paint out:  Moisten brush with cool or warm water and scrub on a bar of ivory soap    (that's right, "the soap that floats"). 
5. Now scrub the brush around on the palm of your hand, working soap all the way up to the metal ferrule.  You might wear glove or plastic bag to protect from potential paint toxins.
6. Wipe off excess lather on cloth or rag.
7. Rinse with warm water.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 until lather no longer shows color.
9. Shake out water and reshape bristles with fingertips.  I've also used a rubber band or plastic twisty-tie to reshape resistant brushes.  Just wrap twistie-tie around bristles when wet- remove when dry.  
10. Let dry on side or in a container bristles up/ handles down. Or hang bristles down.  See Best Way to Dry Brushes here. 

Look at BJ's or other bulk store for the 24-pack of ivory bars.  You will save money on cleaning supplies and keep your brushes in great shape for many years.

If you have a tip to share, please click 'comments' below.

Frugal Artist Tip: 5 Ways To Preserve Paint Brushes

Good Paint Brush Care:

1. Store brushes with handles down and bristles up.* 
2. Clean out all of the paint thoroughly immediately after each painting session.
3. Reshape bristles after cleaning. 
4. Do not soak brushes in water or solvent.
5. Do not use hot water- it has been known to cause bristles to fall out.

* Unless you can hang them in some way.

With good brush care you will keep your paint brushes for many, many years.

Do you want to comment or add to this tip? Please click 'comments' below.